Tanglebird

Run out of the woods by scolding bird neighbors who deplore his messy nest, clumsy Tanglebird flies to the city. He makes several disastrous attempts to scavenge materials for a new home, accidentally ensnaring a bewildered woman in her own knitting yarn, turning a running hose on an aghast gardener and then getting himself hopelessly entangled in multiple kite strings. After a kind child schools the bumbling bird in tying bows and knots, weaving and playing Cat's Cradle, Tanglebird returns to his tree and fashions a dazzling nest, showing up his critics. Unfortunately, Tanglebird's scornful colleagues never offer him the praise or apology he deserves, so the story is not tied up as carefully as is his nest. Lodge's (illustrator of Grandma Went to Market) merry, rustic prints have moments of slapstick humor, and make wonderful use of pattern, subtly flattening foliage, clothing and freeways. They take their palette from Tanglebird's colorful plumage, but have a gently faded look, with the black of the prints appearing as a charcoal gray. The occasional Briticism in this import is unlikely to prevent readers from getting tangled up in this tale, combining as it does endearing klutziness and at least a glimmer of one-upmanship. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)